Kansas
State BTW By-Laws
Voted in unanimously 04/18/09
ARTICLE I. NAME
The
name by which this State/Area of BROTHERS OF THE
THIRD WHEEL, herein known as BTW, shall be known
is (KANSAS), herein known as the
State/Area.
ARTICLE II. PURPOSES
The
specific purpose of the State/Area will be to
carry out the purposes spelled out in the BTW
By-Laws, as well as other purposes listed below.
(A) To unite all Chapters and
independent members of BTW within a specific
state/area.
(B)
To hold regularly scheduled meetings in order to
keep the membership informed and to receive
input from the membership.
(1)The state/area shall hold at least one state
meeting per year to conduct business of the
state/area such as election of officers.
(2)
State/Area meetings will be called by the
State/Area Director with notification to the
State/Area members as determined by the
State/Area Roster not less than 30 days prior to
the meeting.
(C) To plan State/Area events and
conduct other State/Area business that the
members deem necessary.
ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP
Membership in the State/Area shall be open to
anyone who is a member of BTW in good standing
that resides in the state/area. The state/area
membership roster shall be produced by the
Chairman of the Corporation and made available
to State/Area and Chapter Directors. This roster
shall allow the members listed on it voting
rights within the state/area. BTW does not
discriminate in any manner. All decision making
power shall be vested in the membership. No
officer shall make decisions, involving the
State/Area without State/Area member approval.
As a courtesy to new members being added to the
state/area roster they will receive notification
either by mail, email or phone of the existence
of state/area by laws for the purpose of
education.
(A)
Good standing shall mean that all appropriate
dues have been paid to the corporation and there
has not been a vote taken at any BTW level to
revoke the membership.
(B) State/Area dues may not be
assessed by the State/Area as a condition of
membership.
(1)
States/Areas may collect a special assessment
from members wishing to receive a State/Area
Newsletter. This assessment will include Life
Members residing in the state/area who are
exempt from other dues and also BTW members
residing outside of the state/area if they wish
to receive a state/area newsletter.
(a.) The amount of the special assessment will
be determined by a majority vote of the
membership at a regular meeting not less than 30
days after written notice of the proposed
assessment.
(a2) The assessment cost for the newsletter is
$15.00 per household per calendar year. The
assessment is due by the 15th of
January.
(a1) The amount of the assessment may be
adjusted by a vote of the membership at a
regularly scheduled meeting by a majority vote
of the members in attendance, provided that
proper notice has been given.
(b) A copy of the state/area newsletter will
also be forwarded to the Chairman without fee
assessment for the purpose of keeping corporate
informed of the news/events in the state/area.
(c)
A copy of the state/area newsletter will also be
forwarded to the each paying advertiser, and
each the state director of each adjoining state,
without fee assessment for the purpose of record
of the publishing of the advertisement.
(2)
The payment of this assessment will
generate a mailing roster for the state/area
newsletter.
(a)
The roster will be updated prior to each mailing
of the newsletter. A member who has not paid the
special assessment will receive written notice
and given the opportunity to remain on the
mailing roster by paying the assessment within
30 days of notice either by mail, email or
phone.
(b)
There will be four newsletters published each
year. The schedule for mailing will be
determined by the state/area director and the
newsletter editor jointly.
(c)
As a courtesy to new members they will receive
notice of the assessment following the addition
of their name to the State/Area Roster so that
they may be informed of the bylaw in this state.
If they pay the assessment they will be added to
the mailing roster.
(C)
There shall be no probationary period for new
members. Every member is equal and entitled to
the full benefits of members without time
constraints.
(D)
Nothing within these by-laws shall be
interpreted that anything is mandatory, or
required of a member. That shall include the
wearing, or not wearing, of the BTW patch at any
time or place, membership in chapters of the
state/area, or receiving a newsletter from the
state/area, attendance at any meeting or event.
(E). Membership in the State/Area may be revoked
only by following the Membership Grievance
Process & Resolution as set forth in the by laws
of the corporation. Only the Chairman may remove
a member from the State/Area Roster.
ARTICLE IV. MEETINGS
State/Area meetings shall be held at a time and
place established by the State Director or the
membership with a minimum of 1 meeting a year.
Notification of any changes in times or places
will be sent out to all members of the
State/Area by mail, email or phone. Attendance
at meetings and events by members is not
mandatory and is not required.
ARTICLE V. OFFICERS AND DUTIES
The
officers of the State/Area shall include the
Director, Assistant Director, Treasure,
Secretary and Road Captain/ Sergeant of Arms,
Newsletter Editor, Webmaster and Historian; .and
whatever other officers the membership of the
State/Area deems necessary. No State/Area
officer shall use the term “President” in their
title.
(A)
Director:
The Director shall act as the
Corporation’s liaison at the State/Area level,
shall problem solve at the chapter and
state/area level as set forth in the BTW By Laws
and forward problems unresolved at the Chapter
or State/Area levels to the Regional Director
for resolution, shall oversee all meetings of
the State/Area; shall conduct all State/Area
business; shall be responsible for or cause
notifying the membership of the time and place
of all meetings at least 30 days prior to a
meeting; shall be responsible for holding at
least one State/Area event each calendar year;
shall collect or cause to be collected all funds
that have been accessed by the State/Area; shall
be responsible to oversee all disbursement of
funds owed by the State/Area; shall cause the
State/Area news to be forwarded to the BTW
Headquarters for publishing; may establish
committees as are necessary or appropriate to
promote or carry out the purposes of State/Area
and shall serve as an Ex Officio Member of all
State/Area committees and shall perform other
such duties that are inherent to the running of
the State/Area.
(1)
Event for the purpose of this duty may be
defined as little as a state meeting to as large
as the imagination.
(B)
Assistant Director:
Shall assist the Director in their
duties and shall serve as Director in the
absence of the Director.
(C)
Secretary:
Shall keep written records of all
State/Area meetings and perform other such
duties as the State/Area deems necessary. In the
absence of both the Director and Assistant
Director, the Secretary shall chair all
meetings.
(D)
Treasurer:
Shall be in charge of the handling
of all State/Area funds, shall collect and
disburse any monies owed by the State/Area or to
the State/Area and shall maintain a bank account
with at least one other state/area member on the
account, especially for State/Area funds. The
Treasure shall maintain a financial record of
all funds that is open to any member at their
request and may be published as the State/Area
Director or Treasurer deems necessary. The
Treasure may authorize expenses up to $99.99.
Any expenses between $100.00 and $349.99 must
have approval of a majority of the elected
officers. Expenses over the amount $350.00 must
be presented to the membership in a State/Area
meeting. Approval will consist of 51% of the
members present at the meeting.
(E)
Road Captain / Sergeant at Arms:
Shall be responsible for leading all
State/Area runs and shall assist the Director in
the setting up of State/Area events. Shall call
all meetings to order and see that they are run
in an orderly and proper manner.
(F) Newsletter Editor:
Shall prepare and cause
to be printed and mailed the State/Area
newsletter. The Editor shall maintain a
State/Area mailing roster to be updated prior to
the mailing of each State/Area Newsletter. May
collect funds for advertising/sponsorship in or
of the state/area newsletter and forward the
funds to the treasure for use by the state/area.
(G)
State Webmaster:
Shall establish and maintain a
State/Area website for the purpose of posting
information deemed appropriate and/or necessary
to the state membership.
(H)
State Historian:
The Historian is to maintain an
anecdotal history of the state/area for
publication in the state/area newsletter.
(I)
Temporary or Interim Directors:
As the need arises, a temporary or
interim director or contact may be appointed by
either BTW headquarters, or by the Regional
Director as they see fit. The term of the
temporary or interim director shall end at such
time that an elected director is selected to
replace him/her.
ARTICLE VI. ELECTIONS
State/Area Chapter officers will be elected at a
scheduled meeting of the State/Area.
(A)
Notification of Elections: All
members of the State/Area must be notified of
any upcoming election at least 30 days before
the election is held. This notification shall
include a listing of all offices being voted on.
Notification can be by postal mail, e-mail or
phone.
(B)
Qualification: Any member in good standing with
BTW and living in the state/area will be
eligible to seek and hold an office. Good
standing shall mean that the member’s membership
has not been revoked by BTW and that all
appropriate dues have been paid.
(C)
Term of Office: All officers will be elected for
a term of at 2 years, except in the case of an
officer resigning, not being able to carry out
his or her duties or being terminated by the
membership, in which case the State/Area
Director may appoint a temporary or interim
officer until an election can be held. Upon an
election the newly elected officer will serve
the duration of the term of the officer he or
she is replacing. Any officer may be re-elected
for consecutive terms.
(D)
Disputes: Any dispute arising from the election
of officers, and cannot be satisfactorily
resolved by the Members of the State/Area, will
be handled by the BTW Regional Director. If the
Regional Director is unable to resolve the
issue, the Regional Director will take it before
the Board of Directors for review and final
determination.
(E) Recall: Any officer may be
recalled by a vote of the membership.
(1)
Just Cause: Causes for a recall shall include,
but not limited to, neglect of duties, actions
detrimental to the good name of the State/Area
or non-payment of BTW dues. Any member who is
found not to be in good standing with BTW will
be automatically recalled without a vote being
taken.
(2)
Procedure: A motion made and seconded at a
meeting will be just cause to hold a recall
vote. This vote shall be taken at a second
meeting, which shall be held in no less than 30
days.
(3)
Notice: The officer and all members of the
State/Area will be notified, in writing, of the
recall vote being taken and of the meeting date,
time, and place. A brief description of the
alleged charges against the officer shall be
included.
(4)
Appearance: Any officer being recalled will be
afforded the opportunity to appear before the
membership and answer the charges made against
him or her before a vote is taken.
ARTICLE VII. FINANCES
(A)
All funds belonging to the State/Area shall be
recorded in a ledger and kept in a special bank
account set up for that purpose.
(1) Records: A complete
record shall be kept of all finances by the
Director or by the Treasurer.
(2)
Financial Report: The State/Area’s financial
report shall be open to any member desiring to
see it and shall be published at such times as
the State/Area decides.
(3)
Disbursements: All State/Area funds shall be
disbursed by the Treasurer.
(4)
Use of funds: No funds belonging to the
State/Area shall be used by any member or
officer for his or her own personal use, without
the prior approval of the membership.
Article VIII. Amendments
All
members of the State/Area will be notified in
writing of the proposed amendment(s). A vote
shall be taken of the changes not less than 30
days from notification. There must be a majority
vote of members present for any amendments to be
approved.
